Comic Con heroes remind us of the heroes around us – Ann Clanton

By Ann Clanton, contributing writer

In a time when our country is divided on politics and everyday issues, Comic-Con Rhode Island unifies. Southern New Englanders of all walks of life come together in their shared interest of comic books,
anime, film, science fiction and fantasy genres – and so much more. Throughout the three day convention, fans met up with other fans, stood online for hours to get a signed photo of their favorite celebrities, and got up close with their favorite pop-culture icons from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s science fiction and fantasy television shows.

Enthusiastically greeting his fans, Rick Worthy, a Comic Con regular, best known for his recurring role as Simon O’Neill Cylon in the rebooted Battlestar Galactica, RIck Worthy took a few minutes to tell me about his long association with the genre. Mr. Worthy has the distinction of being the black actor in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise, a supporting role in the 1998 film, Star Trek: Insurrection.

Playing a Klingon in the interactive video game “Star Trek: Klingon” changed Rick Worthy’s career trajectory. “I started booking a lot of other episodes of ‘Star Trek,’” says Worthy, a Detroit, Michigan native and University of Michigan alum, who has appeared as different characters in the “Trek” franchise. “I’m incredibly grateful for ‘Star Trek.’ I said it a long time ago, ‘Star Trek’ is one of the best jobs in the world. It’ll always be around because people need it; it’s just part of who we are. It opened up genre TV for me.”

As I left Mr. Worthy’s booth, I spotted a few booths away, the M.A.S.H. icon, Loretta Swit. I took the opportunity to ask her to elaborate about the significance of nurses during the Korean War and the series. The actress was hesitant to talk until I mentioned her remarks at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

“We had real nurses on the show and the last two years of dealing with Covid-19 showed us all how they are truly the real heroes,” said Ms. Swit, who played Nurse Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan.

Comic Con-Rhode Island’s appearance in our Rhode Island universe reminds us every time it comes that our Heroes come in many shapes and forms.

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Ann-Allison Clanton was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. As principal of Ann Clanton Communications, Ann has more than two decades of experience as a communications and public affairs consultant. She has written features and profiles articles for the Providence American Newspaper and Ethnic Online Magazine.

Among the notable persons interviewed include former U. S. Ambassador Andrew Young, Dr. Cornell West, former Florida Congressman Allen West (R-FL) and Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus first African American Ringmaster, Johnathan Lee Iverson.

Ann is the founder of the Rhode Island Black Film Festival and a founding member of the Southern New England Association of Black Journalists.